Fuel-tank



C. F. GREEN AND H. W. LINDSEY, JR.

FUEL TANK.

, APPLICATION FILED JULY 25. 1918.

1,364,841. Patented Jah. ,1921;

IN VEN TOR. Char/ea I? Green. BY Llfldsey J:

A TTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES I. GREEN AND HARRY W. LINDSEY, JR, 013 TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH CORPORATION, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A-CORPORATION OI DELAWARE.

FUEL-TANK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Applicationjled July 25, 1918. Serial No. 246,698.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHAnLEs F. GREEN and HARRY W. LINDSEY, J r., citizens of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Tanks, of which we declare the liquid in the tank constituting the reserve supply and thereby calling his attention to the fact that it is necessary to obtain a fresh supply of fuel.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved valve arrangement for controlling the supply of liquid from a tank having a compartment for holding a reserve supply of fuel.

Further objects, and objects relating to economies of manufacture and details of construction, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

We accomplish the objects of our invention by the devices and'means described in the following specification. .Our invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims.

A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a view in elevation showing the supply tank in section and indicating the manner of connecting the same with the engine through a vacuum feed tank.

Fig. II is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional elevation of the supply tank taken on line II-II of Fig. I

Fig. III is an enlarged, detail, sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. I.

Fig. IV is an enlarged, detail elevation of the valve operating mechanism shown in the upper part of Fig. II.

Fig. V is a sectional V--V of Fig. IV, and,

Fig. VI is an enlarged, detail, side elevaplan taken on line tion of the pivotal support for the valve operating lever.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents an automobile engine or motor of any preferred type, the carbureter and manifold gherleof being indicated at 11 and 12 respecive y.

The vacuum gravity feed tank 13 of any well known design is connected with the carbureter and manifold by the conduits l4 and 15 respectively, as shown in Fig. I, the vacuum tank being also connected with the fuel supply tank 16 by means of the conduit 17.

The supply tank is provided with -a transverse wall or partition 18 which divides the lower part of the tank into two separate compartments 19 and 2 0, the latter serving as the reserve supply compartment for holding a predetermined quantity of liquid when the entire supply in the remaining portion of the tank has been consumed by the engine. The-partition 18 preferably extends upwardly something less than half of the height of the tank and is straddled by a forked pipe having the branches 21 and 22 extending downwardly from the connection 23 which communicates with the supply pipe or conduit 17 through the elbow 24 and short pipe 25 extending through the top of the tank and the plate 26 thereon, as shown in Fig. II.

The pipe 25 exteriorly of the tank is provided with a fixed collar 27 having the spaced arms 28 which, are engaged on their inner faces by the laterally extending rounded projections 29 at one end of the lever 30 which is provided with the pivot pin 31 journaled in the upstanding lug or bracket 32 on the plate 26, as shown in Figs. IV and V.

The lever is provided with a handle '33 and on its sides adjacent'the upstanding lug with a locking projection 34 adapted to engage the lug in the notches or recesses 35 and 36, when said lever is in its extreme operative positions, as shown by the full and dotted lines in Fig. IV. 1

A spring 37 is mounted on the pivot pin with one end seated upon the lug 32 and the other seated upon the washer 38 which is held by the cotter 39 extending through the outer end of the pin, the spring serving to yieldingly hold the lever in either of the positions indicated in Fig. IV when the locking projection 34 is in one or the other of the notches 35 and 36.

Upon the bottom end of the branch pipe 21 is secured the valve housing or casing 40 for receiving the ball valve 41 on the stem 42 extending upwardly from the plate 43 which normally rests upon the bottom of the tank when said valve is open. The pipe 21is extended into the housing, as shown in Fi III and is suitably "connected therewith. The housing is provided with a seat 44 for the valve 41 whereby the branch pipe 21 is closed when the lever is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. IV. A spring 45 is mounted upon the stem 42 beneath the casing 40 and serves to insure proper contact of the valve upon its seat when the pipe 21 is elevated by the downward movement of the lever handle 33; i

The branch pipe 22 leading to the reserve supply compartment 20 is also provided with a valve housing or casing, as indicated at 46, in which is secured the valve seating member 47 provided with an aperture 48 adapted to be closed by the ball valve 49 rigidly connected with the stem 50 entending upwardly from the plate 51, which is seated upon the bottom of the tank where said valve is closed. The pipe 22 is extended into the upper end of the valve casing and is suitably connected therewith. In the lower portion of the casing is secured the ring 52 for seating the upper end of the spring 53, the lower end of which is seated upon the plate 51 with which the valve stem 50 is connected. The spring 53 serves to assist in unseating the valve 49 when the lever handle is moved to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. I

When the valve 49 is closed, none of the fuel can be withdrawn from the reserve supply compartment 20 of the tank when suction is produced in the vacuum tank 13 by the engine for the purpose of lifting the liquid from the main supply tank above the top of the partition 18 and below the same from the compartment 19 on the side opposite the partition to that upon which the pipe 22 extends.

It will be readily seen from the drawings that when the lever is in the position shown in Fig. II that the valve 41 will be unseated or opened and the valve 49 closed and that none of the liquid can be withdrawn from the compartment 20 until the lever is moved to the osition shown by dotted lines in Fig. lv 1 When the branch pipes 21 and 22 and short pipe 25 are elevated by pressing down upon the handle of the lever to cause the upper projection 29 thereof to travel upon the inner face of the upper arm 28 of the collar 27 the valve 41 will be closed and the valve 49 opened to permit the withdrawal of the reserve supply of liquid by the suction produced in the tank when the en ine is running. B closing the valve 41 w en the valve 49 s open, the suctionjof air through the branch pipe 21 is prevented, which is very necessary in a device of this k nd. The movement of the lever from its normal position, as shown in Figs. '11 and IV, Wlll, of course, only be necessary in cases where the driver of the machine fails to replenish his fuel supply at the proper t me, either inadvertently or throu h necessity, as may sometimes be the case. 11 either of the positions the lever is moved to, it will be firmly held by the locking projection 34 engaging the lug 32 in the recesses 35 and 36 under the pressure exerted bv the spring 37, will be readily understood. When the lever handle is in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. IV, the plates 43 and 51 upon which the springs 45 and 53, respec- I tively, are seated will be raised sufliciently to clear the bottom of the tank, the spring 45 serving at this time to close the valve 4], and the spring 53 to open the valve 49 to permit the reserve supply of fuel to be drawn through the pipes 22, 25 and 17.

\Ve are aware that the particular embodiment of our invention, which we have here shown and described, is susceptible of considerable variation, without departing from the spirit thereof, and, therefore, we desire to claim the same broadly, as well as specificalfiy, as indicated by the appended claims.

, aving thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a tank having oppositely arranged liquid holding compartments, an adjustable tubular member adapted to alternately communicate with eachof said compartments when in different ositions of-adjustment, and means for adjusting said member relatively to said tank.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a tank having oppositely arranged liquid holding compartments, an adjustable tubular member adapted to alternately communicate with each of said com artments when in different positions of a justment, means for adjusting said member relatively to said tank, and means for locking the same in adjusted position.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a tank having oppositely arranged liquid holding compartments, a conduit having a branch pipe leading to each of said compartments, and means for shifting said branch pipes to effect the alternate opening and closing of the same.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a tank having oppositely arranged liquid holding compartments, a conduit having a branch pipe leading to each of said" compartments, means for shifting said branch pipes to effect the alternate opening and closing of the same, and means for effooting the forcing of the liquid through each of said pipes when open and through said conduit.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a tank having oppositely arran ed liquid holding compartments, a con uit having a branch pipe leading to each of said compartments, valvescooperating with said branch pipes to control the supply of liquid therethrough, a lever connected with the pipe for moving the same to effect the alternate opening and closing of the valves, and means for effecting the forcing of liquid through each of said pipes and said conduit.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a tank having oppositely arran ed liquid holding compartments a con uit having a branch pipe leading to each of said compartments, separate valves cooperating with each of said branch pipes to control the supply of liquid therethrough, means for effecting the alternate opening and closing of the valves, and means for effecting the forcing of liquid through each of said pipes and said conduit.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a tank having oppositely arranged liquid holding compartments, a conduit having a branch pipe leading to each of said compartments, valves movable relatively to said tank and cooperating with said branch pipes to control the passage-ways therethrough, means for moving the pipes to effect alternate opening and closing of the same by the valves, and means for effecting the forcing of liquid through each of said pipes when open and through said conduit.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a fuel tank having a partition therein, a conduit having a branch pipe leading to each side. of said partition, and a separate valve for each of said branch pipes, means for simultaneously effecting the alternate opening and closing of said valves.

9. A device of the class described, comprising a fuel tank having a partition therein, a conduit having a branch pipe leading to each side of said partition, separate valves for alternately opening and closing said branch pipes, and means for simultaneously shifting the pipes upon the valves.

10.,A device of the class described, comprising a fuel tank having a partition therein, a conduit adjustable relatively to the tank and having a branch pipe leading to each side of the partition, valves for al.- ternately opening and closing said pipes when the conduit is in different positions of adjustment, and means for shifting and locking said conduit upon the tank.

11. A device of the class described, comprising a fuel tank having a partition dividing the lower portion thereof into two compartments, a conduit having a branch pipe leading to each of. said compartments, valves seated upon the tank for alternately opening and closing said branch pipes upon movement of the latter, means for shifting the position of said pi es, and means for effecting the forcing of iquid through said pipes.

A device'of the class described, comprism a fuel tank havin a partition therein an an adjustable conduit provided with branch pipes extending into the tank upon each side of the partition, means for alternately opemng and closing said branch pipes upon movement of the conduit from one position of adjustment to another, and a lever operatively connected with the conduit for adjusting the same.

A device of the class described, comprising a fuel tank having a partition therein, an ad ustable conduit provided with branch pipes extending into the tank upon each side of the partition, means for alternately opening and closing said branch pipes upon movement of the conduit from one position of adjustment to, another, a member fixed upon the conduit and a lever mounted upon the tank and operatively connected with said member for raising and lowering the conduit.

A device of the class described, comprising a fuel tank having a partition theren, an adjustable conduit provided with branch pipes extending into the tank upon each side of the partition, means for alternately opening and closing said branch pipes upon movement of the conduit from one position of adjustment to another, a pair of laterally extending spaced projections carried by said conduit, a lever engag ing said projections and movable thereon to effect the adjustment of saidconduit, and means for locking said lever in its several positions of adjustment.

15. A device of the class described, comprising a fuel tank having a partition therein, an adjustable conduit provided with branch pipes extending into the tank upon adjustable conduit extending therein, a

valve for automatically opening and closing said conduit when in different positions of adjustment, and a lever operatively connected with said conduit for shifting the same.

i 17. A device of the class described, comprising a liquid fuel tank, an adjustable conduit extending therein, a valve for opening and closing said conduit when the lattcr is in different positions of adjustment, an upstanding member upon the tank provided with a plurality of notches, a lever pivoted upon said upstanding member and having a locking projection adapted to engage the upstanding member within said notches, means for yieldingly holding the lever upon said upstanding member, and means operatively connecting said lever with said conduit for moving the same to its several positions of adjustment.

18. A device of the class described, com prising a liquid holding tank having a partition therein, an adjustable conduit projecting into the tank with branches upon each side of the partition, valves adapted to alternately open and close said branches in different positions of adjustment, and means for adjusting the conduit relatively to the valves.

19. A device of the class described, comprising a liquid holding tank having an adjustable conduit projecting therein, a valve housing upon the conduit within the tank, a member fixed upon the housing having an aperture therethrough adapted to communicate with the conduit, a valve stem engaging the tank and extending into said housing and provided with a valve for opening and closing said aperture when the conduit is raised and lowered, yielding means exteriorly of the conduit for holding said valve closed when the conduit is raised. and means for adjusting said conduit relatively to said valve.

20. The combination with a suction producing apparatus and a vacuum gravity feed tank connected therewith, of a liquid fuel supply tank having a partition therein, a conduit connected with said gravity feed tank and having a branch pipe extending into said supply tank upon each side of said partition, an automatic valve for each of said pipes, and means for moving said pipes to effect the alternate opening and closing of said valves.

21. The combination with a suction producing apparatus and a vacuum gravity feed tank connected therewith, of a liquid fuel supply tank having oppositely arranged compartments, a conduit leading from said gravity feed tank having a con nection communicating with each of said compartments, an automatic valve for each of said connections, and common means for shifting said connections to effect the alternate opening and closing of said valves.

22. The combination with the manifold and carbureter of an automobile engine and a vacuum gravity feed tank connected with the same, of a liquid fuel supply source, a fuel reserve-supply source, connections between said fuel supply sources and said vacuum gravity feed tank, an automatic valve for each of said connections and means for movingsaid connections to permit the alternate opening and closing of said valves.

23. The combination with the manifold and carbureter of an automobile engine and a vacuum gravity feed tank having connections leading to said manifold and said carbureter, of a main liquid fuel supply source, a fuel reserve supply source, adjustable connections between said fuel supply sources and said vacuum gravity feed tank, an automatic valve for each of said connections, and means for adjusting the connection to permit the alternate opening and closing of said valves.

24. The combination with the manifold and carbureter of an automobile engine and a vacuum gravity feed tank having connections leading to said manifold and to said carbureter, of a liquid fuel supply tank having a partition therein, a conduit connected with said gravity feed tank having a branch pipe extending into said supply tank upon each side of said partition, an automatic valve for each of said branch pipes, and means for shifting said branch pipes to effect the alternate opening and closing of said valves.

25. The combination with the manifold and carbureter of an automobile engine and a. vacuum gravity feed tank having connections leading to said manifold and to said carbureter, of a liquid fuel supply tank having a partition therein, an adjustable conduit connected with said gravity feed tank and having two branch pipes fixed thereon, one of which extends into the supply tank upon one side of the partition and the other upon the opposite side thereof, a valve for each of said branch pipes, and means for adjusting said conduit to effect the alternate opening and closing of said valves.

26. The combination with a suction producing apparatus and a vacuum gravity feed tank connected therewith, of a liquid fuel supply tank' having a partition therein, an adjustable conduit connected with said gravity feed tank and having a branch pipe ex tending into said supply tank upon each side of said partition, and means for automatically effecting the alternate opening and closing of said branch pipes upon adjustment of said conduit.

27. The combination with a suction producing apparatus and a vacuum gravity feed tank connected therewith, of a liquid fuel supply tank having oppositely arranged compartments, an adjustable conduit leading from said gravity feed tank. having a connection communicating with each of said compartments, and means for alternately opening and closing said connections upon adjustment of said conduit.

28. The combination with the manifold and carbureter of an automobile engine and a vacuum gravity feed tank connected with the same, of a liquid fuel supply source, a fuel reserve supply source, adjustable connections between said fuel supply sources and said vacuum gravity feed tank, and means for alternately opening and closing said connections upon adjustment of the same.

29. A device of the class described, comprisinga tank having oppositely arranged liquid holding compartments, a conduit leading to said tank, an adjustable member communicating with said conduit and having a branch pipe leading to and movable within each of said compartments, and means for effecting the alternate opening and closing of said branch pipes upon move ment of said adjustable member in opposite directions.

30. A device of the class described, comprising a tank having oppositely arranged liquid holding compartments, a conduit leading to said tank, an adjustable member communicating with said conduit and having branch pipes movable therewith and leading to said compartments, means for effecting the alternate opening and closing of said branch pipes upon movement of said adjustable member in opposite directions, and a suction producing apparatus connected with said conduit.

31. A device of the class described, comprising a tank having oppositely arranged liquid holding compartments, a conduit leading to said tank, an adjustable member communicating with said conduit and having a branch pipe leading to each of said compartments, valves cooperating with said branch pipes to control the supply of liquid therethrough, a lever connected with said adjustable member for moving the same to effect the alternate opening and closing of ing a branch pipe leading to each of said compartments, spring-seated valves cooperating with said tank and said branch pipes to control the passageways therethrough; means for moving said adjustable member to effect alternate opening and closing of the valves, and an aspirator connected with said conduit.

33. A device of the class described, comprising a liquid fuel tank, an outlet conduit having two extensions adjustable within the tank, and valves adapted to alternately open and close said extensions when moved from one position of adjustment to another.

34. A device of the class described comprising a fuel tank, an outlet conduit adjustable therein, a valve for opening and closing said conduit having a stem, said valve and stem being movable with the couduit and relatively to the tank, said stem cooperating with the tank to open the valve when the conduit is moved to one position of adjustment, and means adapted to close the valve when the conduit is moved to another position of adjustment.

35. A device of the class described comprising a fuel tank, an outlet conduit adjustable therein, a valve for opening and closing said conduit havin a stem, said valve and stem being movab e with the conduit and relatively to the tank, said stem cooperating with the tank to open the valve when-the conduit is moved to one position of adjustment, means adapted to close the valve when the conduit is moved to another position of adjustment, and a suction pro- :jucing apparatus connected with said conuit.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

CHARLES F. GREEN. HARRY W. LINDSEY, JR. 

